Age 13:
The sun beat down across the sprawling backyard, the scorch marks on the training mats still fresh from their latest spar. A flicker of residual heat shimmered in the air where Natsu had just blasted a fire-powered punch inches from Gray's face, sending him sprawling backward across the mat for the third time that morning.
Gray sat up with a grunt, wiping sweat off his brow. "Dammit…"
Natsu stood above him, smirking smugly, not even winded. "Told you. I'm the strongest Todoroki now. You're just gonna have to accept that, Haise~"
Gray scowled at Natsu's annoying tone. Normally, he would resume his attacks, but his curiosity was too great. "And you don't have to eat fire anymore?"
Natsu tilted his head, stretching his arms. "Nope. Haven't for a while." He held out his palm, a small flickering flame lighting up. "I can stockpile it now. Like a battery or something. Kinda neat, right?"
Gray blinked. "That's not just neat, you idiot. Did your quirk go through an awakening?"
Natsu blinked. "What now?"
Gray stood, brushing soot off his clothes. "It's when a quirk mutates or upgrades suddenly, usually during extreme stress or danger. Like, really rare. Most people never get one. But it can happen. I read about it in the school library. It's super rare.
Natsu scratched his head. "So you're saying… I got an upgraded version of my Quirk? Just like that?"
"You nearly died, remember?" Gray muttered. "That whole Muscular incident… the gas station thing..."
"Oh, that." Natsu grinned, completely unfazed. "Guess that makes sense. I have felt different since that fight. I feel alot stronger, and flames have been way hotter. I've had to dial it down way more since then."
'Did he never wonder why??'
"Yeah," Gray replied, exasperated. "And now you're casually melting my ice before I even throw it. Thanks."
Natsu cackled. "Can't help being awesome."
Gray rolled his eyes but didn't deny it. Instead, he stepped back onto the mat, flicking a sharp spear of ice from his palm. "Again. From the top."
"What, you're gonna keep losing until you "awaken" your Quirk too?"
"If I have to."
Natsu grinned, stance dropping low with fire curling around his arms. "Then bring it on, ice princess."
Gray launched forward with a curse, and the backyard filled once more with the roar of fire and crack of ice. Thankfully no one was home at this time.
The training mat outside was still slick with sweat, melting slightly under the weight of the midday heat. Gray stood in the shade of a tree, breathing heavily, his shirt soaked through and ice patches melting around his feet. Natsu had already left. Something about needing to call his Shou and Glowl.
He watched the slight scorch marks across the yard where Natsu had just trained hours earlier. The sparring sessions played again in his mind, Natsu's fire was different now. It was far more wild, and it felt even more dangerous then Endeavor's flames. He knew Natsu was already holding back.
He had completely overtaken him.
But Gray felt energized
He clenched his fists, eyes narrowed in focus.
"If Natsu awakened… then maybe I can too. I just need to work harder. I can't be left behind." He mused. First he needed a new environment. Their usual places weren't enough. He needed a better location. He thought back to Ur's training. The unorthodox methods. Maybe he could employ some now that he was a bit stronger.
A crooked grin tugged at the corner of his mouth as he summoned another blast of cold air, freezing over the broken grass. For the first time in a long time, he felt excited. He finally had a nice goal to look forward to again.
-
Shoto sat at the table, towel draped around his neck, sweat still dripping from his hair. He'd just returned from his latest training session with Endeavor at the agency.
Gray leaned back in his chair, a sports drink in hand. "So? You survive Dad's newest 'regimen' or what?"
Shoto groaned. "Barely. He wants me doing double drills now that I'm nearing high school. 'Preparation is everything,' he says."
Natsu snorted from across the room, upside down on the couch. "Bet he just doesn't want you slacking while I get awesome."
"Shut up," Shoto muttered. Then, looking over at Rei, he cleared his throat. "Actually, Mom… I wanted to ask something."
Rei, wiping down the kitchen counter, turned. "Yes, Shoto?"
"I want to go to Mount Fuji for a couple of weeks. Just… as a break. Some time to unwind before the next semester starts. And maybe train on my own terms for once."
Rei looked immediately concerned. "Mount Fuji? That's a big trip, sweetheart… and it's the middle of summer. It'll be crowded, and.."
"I'm going too," Gray interjected, crossing his arms. "It's high altitude. Cool climate. I hate the heat. And my quirk makes me cold-resistant. I'll be fine." Gray was excited. This was the perfect opportunity to train. The extreme cold weather will be perfect.
"Still," Rei said, brows furrowed, "that's a long time. And there's always risk, especially this time of year…"
"We'll go with them," Fuyumi cut in gently, stepping into the room with Natsuo beside her. "Natsuo and I can watch over them. We've both got time off, and it'll be good for the boys to get some air, together. Like a real vacation."
Rei hesitated, eyes scanning her children's hopeful expressions. Natsu had even tumbled off the couch to sit up, looking excited. .
"…All right," Rei said softly. "But only if the entire trip is planned out, accommodations confirmed, and you all check in every day. Understand?"
"Yes!" Gray and Shoto said in unison.
–
"I still cant believe he was okay with this." Natsuo said. Endeavor never left Shoto out of his sight so it was surprising he let them go.
"Your Father has his moments." Inwardly, she was shocked as well.
Several suitcases were loaded into the back of the car. Ski gear, warm clothes, snacks, and a full box of lighters.
Shoto adjusted his scarf. "Two weeks in the cold sounds perfect. It is way too hot."
Gray tied a thick jacket around his waist. "You better keep up. I'm going to train like hell every morning."
Natsu was already climbing into the car. Although rei had packed clothing for him. Natsu insisted on the T-shirt, Shorts and Flip flops. His white scarf wrapped around him. "I want to go skiing"
Fuyumi carried out the last thermos of Rei's homemade tea. "Remember, no idiocy in the mountains. That means you, Yakuto."
"What's your idea of Idiocy?" Natsu joked.
Natsuo laughed. "I give it one day before he tries to snowboard down a double black diamond while on fire."
"Hey!" Natsu shouted. "I'd only do that if I had skis too."
"Absoultely not." She pulled Natsu's ear. "Stay out of trouble, Mister."
"Fine, Fine." Natsu relented.
Rei sighed and gave each of them a long hug, holding on a bit tighter to Natsu than the rest. "Be safe, boys. All of you. Please."
"We will, Mother." Gray said with a rare softness in his tone.
The car doors shut, and the engine started.
As they pulled away from the Todoroki estate, laughter echoed from inside, fire and ice twins bickering, Shoto quietly reading a map, Fuyumi and Natsuo sharing a smile in the front.
It had been a rough year. But for now, for two whole weeks, it was just going to be a fun vacation.
-
The van rumbled to a stop at the base of the resort, tires crunching over packed snow as the engine sputtered off. A white haze of chilled mountain air rolled in as the doors slid open, and the Todoroki siblings filed out one by one, boots landing in snow with soft thuds.
The cold hit instantly, sharp, biting, and unrelenting. Fuyumi instinctively wrapped her scarf tighter. Natsuo shivered a little and cursed under his breath. Despite their cold quirks, it was still too cold for them. Shoto exhaled slowly, his breath misting in the air, eyes scanning the slope in quiet calculation.
And then there was Natsu
He stepped out last, arms crossed over his chest, scarf lazily draped but barely clinging to his neck. The wind howled through the pines, slamming against him like a living wall. Yet he didn't flinch. His crimson hair whipped in the chill, steam rising in thin wisps from his skin where heat met frost.
"...He's already started," Gray muttered, instinctively starting to strip.
A faint red shimmer danced around Natsu's frame. His skin almost tinged with a red glow.
"Oyy Yakuto, what are you doing? " Natsuo asked. He stepped closer to Natsu. He could feel the heat coming off him and it made the air slightly warmer.
"Training," Natsu said plainly, eyes narrowing toward the mountain slope. "If I can keep this up for longer periods, I won't burn out so fast when I use the big stuff."
Fuyumi stepped out next, holding the bags, her eyes flicking immediately toward Natsu with concern. "Yakuto, don't overdo it, "
"I'm fine," he said. "Promise."
Steam hissed softly where his warmth met the air again. He was already tiring out a bit. "This place is perfect!"
Gray looked over, his own breath curling in the wind. He agreed. The cold here was perfect.
He was excited.
"Guess I better step it up," he muttered under his breath, then louder, "Just don't melt the mountain, flamebrain."
Natsu grinned, the mist briefly parting around his teeth. "Try and keep up, snowball."
Shoto didn't say much; he just watched the two of them banter, then turned toward the resort path, hands in his coat pockets. "We're wasting daylight. Let's go. It's not often I get a vacation."
The siblings trudged onward, laughter and mist following behind them. Training would come later. For now, they had two weeks, a frozen mountain, and one very determined Natsu trying to become a walking furnace.
Gray took one last look at the surroundings. The trees in the distance and the cave they drove fast. He smiled and turned back to his family. This place was perfect.
–
The lodge was quiet that night, the mountain wind whispering against the frosted windows like a lullaby for the restless. After dinner, the Todoroki siblings settled into their rooms, tired from the long trip. Fuyumi got everything settled and put away. Even though Rei stayed behind, she made sure to pack everything essential for the kids.
Rei even made sure all of Natsu's winter clothes were in a bag. He now stood in the hallway, scarf wrapped tight around his neck, ear muffs snug, thick gloves on both hands, and an insulated black jacket zipped all the way up. His fiery crimson hair peeked out from under a wool cap. He was no longer using his quirk to warm up. Keeping it active the whole day in the freezing cold basically exhausted him. Quirks were muscles and it was best not to overwork them too often. Gray and Shoto were also fully dressed. Gray in a White zip up overcoat with black pants and white socks. Shoto dressed similarly but in full dark grey.
"Alright," Fuyumi said as the trio slipped on their boots, "you can go look around, but stick together. And no wandering too far from the main paths, got it?"
"We got it!" Natsu grinned, already bounding toward the door. Gray and Shoto followed with a bit more composure.
Outside, the night was calm but biting. The air was crisp and sharp in their lungs, and the snow beneath their boots crunched satisfyingly with every step. The resort was dotted with warm golden lights and strings of lanterns hanging from poles. Other guests moved around in thick coats and scarves, sipping cocoa or throwing snowballs. The three boys wandered through it all, warm cups in their gloved hands.
"This place is nice," Shoto commented, sipping his cocoa.
"Yeah," Natsu muttered. "But I am here to train, not get soft."
Gray chuckled. "Relax, Idiot. But actually... I want to find a good spot. Somewhere we can go all out."
"Now you're talking," Natsu smirked, some light embers slipping out from under his scarf.
Shoto whined but followed along. "I'll follow you guys, but I'm here to relax, not train. I already do that to death everyday at home.
The three slipped away from the more populated parts of the resort, passing the outdoor baths and recreation cabins, until they reached a quiet path that snaked through the woods. The trees stood tall and covered in snow, their branches swaying in the wind. They walked deeper in, boots crunching in rhythm, until the resort lights faded behind them.
"Don't go too far," Shoto warned, glancing at the time. "It's almost 9."
"Yeah Yeah. don't worry" Gray said. "Just scoping it out."
Eventually, they found it. An open glade nestled between tall trees, and just beyond that, a cave beneath a rock shelf.
Gray stepped into the middle of the clearing and grinned. "Perfect."
Before the others could stop him, Gray began stripping off his winter jacket, scarf, and gloves, dropping them in a pile.
"Haise, what are you—" Shoto started
"I need to test something," Gray muttered, stepping into the open in just a shirt and pants.
Natsu blinked. "You are the dumbest ice user I know."
Shoto narrowed his eyes. "You're stress testing your cold resistance."
"Bingo."
"But, this is crazy." Even Shoto hadn't tried that kind of training. Of course, Endeavor only really helped him train his fire side, using his ice side to just cool him down.
The temperature hovered around 0°C—already cold—but with the wind chill, it cut like knives against exposed skin. Gray stood there with arms crossed, jaw clenched. At first, he seemed fine. Then the shivering started. A minute passed. Two. Then three.
"Alright, time to warm up—"
"Wait—just a sec—"
Gray grit his teeth and slammed his palm into the snow, sending out a wave of ice spikes. Another followed. Then another.
He panted. His breath fogged in front of him in thick clouds. But already, frost was clinging to his arms and neck. His lips were starting to pale.
"F-fire, quick—" he muttered.
Shoto didn't wait. He peeled off his left glove and summoned a small stream of fire from his palm. Gray stumbled closer, absorbing the heat like a sponge.
Gray tested it a few more times, before he was too tired to continue. "Okay… that was the last time, I promise." He mumbled out, almost inaudibly.
"You're insane," Shoto muttered but helped him up.
Once he was stable again, Gray put his layers back on, rubbing warmth back into his fingers.
"I lasted ten minutes each session." he said softly on the walk back. "Maybe a bit more. I'll need to balance cold exposure with energy output. Too much and I'll freeze faster than I can train."
He stared down at his glove, thoughtful. "But that's the trick, huh? Control. How much I push, how long I last. Maybe short bursts at first. Build it up."
"You're gonna do that every night?" Natsu asked, raising a brow.
Gray smirked, his eyes sharp. "Every night."
"That's either genius or insane. I don't know with you two anymore." Shoto was stunned. No wonder the two were strong. Neither of them was right in the head. He clenched his fist.
–
The warmth of the lodge wrapped around them like a blanket the moment the trio stepped back in. The wind outside howled against the wooden beams, but inside, the gentle crackle of the fireplace and the scent of cinnamon-sprinkled cocoa made the room feel like a safe haven.
Fuyumi looked over from where she was reading. "Everything alright?"
"We're good," Shoto said, patting Natsu's scarf into place.
Gray nodded, sipping his cocoa with red-tinted cheeks. "Yup. We found a good spot."
Fuyumi looked up from her spot on the couch, already noting the light dusting of snow clinging to their jackets and hair.
She looked quizzically at them and asked. "You didn't wander too far, right?"
"We were fine," Shoto answered smoothly, brushing snow from his shoulders.
Natsu just mumbled, flopping down onto one of the armchairs. "Yeah, if you don't count Gray stripping at night when it's freezing as fine."
"It was training." Gray retorted
"It was stupid," Shoto chimed in casually. "What would you have done if me and Yakuto weren't there"
Gray shot them both a glare instead of responding, tugging his blanket tighter around himself as he reached for the hot cocoa Fuyumi had made earlier. He took a grateful sip and slouched further into the seat.
Natsuo came in from the back hall, stretching. "Hey, you guys good? Nobody lost any fingers to frostbite?"
"Nope," Natsu said with a grin, turning his head toward the roaring fireplace. His eyes lit up with glee. He slipped off his gloves and pulled back his sleeves.
And then, before anyone could stop him, he reached straight into the flames.
The room collectively froze as Natsu pulled out one of the charcoal sticks from the center of the fire, still burning. He chomped at the fire and ate it up.
"Mmm," he said, cheeks puffed slightly as he chewed. "Smoky. Kind of sweet. Charcoal fire is still the best. "
The rest of the guests in the lodge stared, slack jawed.
A woman choked on her cocoa. Someone dropped their book.
"Yakuto!" Fuyumi hissed, standing up. "Don't eat from the fireplace!"
"Why not?"
Fuyumi didn't have a response. Was it illegal to eat from the fireplace? Is it considered stealing?
Natsuo burst into laughter from behind his cocoa mug, nearly spilling it. "Oh my god, he's right, there's no law saying you can't eat the fire right."
Shoto shook his head, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
Gray pinched the bridge of his nose and muttered, "Idiot."
Natsu dropped the charcoal stick which was no longer burning. He grumbled and went back to his seat and slumped. He mumbled something about not being able to eat.
From across the room, someone whispered, "Did that kid just eat fire?"
"What an interesting quirk" another guest murmured.
Fuyumi tried to smile apologetically at the guests, then turned back to Natsu. "Seriously. No more eating lodge property."
"Fine, fine," Natsu said, pulling his scarf up and nestling back in the chair.
Fuyumi sighed, pressing a hand to her temple. "Alright, it's getting late. Let's all head upstairs."
No one argued. The long walk, the cold, and the cocoa had left everyone sluggish. The fire popped again in the hearth as they all gathered their things.
Upstairs, the triplets' shared room was warm and modest, two beds pushed together and a third futon laid out beside them. Their bags were stacked neatly against the wall. Fuyumi and Natsuo had a separate room just down the hall.
The moment they stepped in, Natsu kicked off his boots, flopped onto the futon, and within seconds, his breathing slowed into the soft rhythm of sleep. Still bundled in his scarf and jacket, he didn't even bother getting under the blanket. The family got used to his eccentricities. He rarely asked for anything except collectibles, he was fine with sleeping on the ground, and didn't ever use blankets. If they ever travelled out, he even made himself a hammock. So all they did was give him a small futon.
Shoto took his time, changing into a clean shirt and pulling out a small paperback from his bag. He didn't speak, he just read quietly under the lamplight in the corner, eyes steady, body relaxed.
Gray moved to the window, standing silently with his arms crossed. The glass was cold to the touch as he leaned slightly toward it, watching the snow drift outside.
The resort was quiet now, just a few scattered lights still on in the distance. Wind carved soft grooves into the thick powder covering the ground. The open clearing they'd found was out there somewhere, buried in dark and frost.
He exhaled, his breath fogging the window.
Natsu was getting stronger. It wasn't even a question anymore. Whatever happened after that villain attack last year… it changed something in him. Gray wasn't jealous. Not really. But he felt that familiar itch in his gut, the one that said you're behind.
He wasn't mad about it.
He was excited.
Motivated. He unknowingly smiled as he stared out.
He pulled away from the window and grabbed his own blanket, sliding into bed without another word.
Behind him, Shoto had already closed his book and turned off the lamp. He walked over to Natsu to put the blanket over him before turning to his bed. The room dimmed, only the sound of Natsu's light snoring filling the space.
Gray stared at the ceiling for a while longer before closing his eyes.
Tomorrow, he would train even harder.